The Town FilesGalena, Illinois
City in Jo Daviess County · population 3,308 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,200
- Household income
- $58,689
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 57.0
Galena is a city of 3,308 people in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The median home is worth $233,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Illinois towns, hipper than 99% of Illinois towns, quieter than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Galena ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Galena is worth $233,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $58,689, which is more affordable than 4% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $836 a month. 56.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galena | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $836 | $960 |
| Median household income | $58,689 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 56.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Galena
| People | Galena | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 9.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 14.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Galena
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galena since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 15, 1998 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 20, 2004.
Severe weather in Jo Daviess County since 1996
Jo Daviess County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jo Daviess County
Jo Daviess County had 7,485 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,804 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Galena itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Galena
2 public schools with 830 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galena Elementary and Middle Sch | PK-8 | 590 | 12.6 |
| Galena High School | 9-12 | 240 | 10.9 |
Towns near Galena
- Dubuque, IA15.2 mi · 59,667 people · home $204,800
- Asbury, IA19.0 mi · 5,943 people · home $339,000
- Platteville, WI21.2 mi · 11,836 people · home $200,100
- Savanna, IL27.1 mi · 2,783 people · home $72,400
- Maquoketa, IA27.7 mi · 6,128 people · home $132,500
Galena questions
Is Galena, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galena scores better for retirees than 100% of Illinois towns and quieter than 93%. 38.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.0).
How much does a house cost in Galena?
The median owner-occupied home in Galena is valued at $233,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,689, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $836 a month.
What is the weather like in Galena?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.9 inches of snow.
Does Galena get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 15, 1998. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)